Morocco, Egypt profit as global fertilizer prices surge 15 percent

Two African nations have emerged as unexpected beneficiaries of global fertilizer market disruptions,with Morocco and Egypt capitalizing on geopolitical tensions to establish themselves as alternative suppliers to Europe amid a 15 percent price surge in 2025.

World Bank data released this week reveal dramatic price increases across fertilizer categories,with triple superphosphate jumping 43 percent and diammonium phosphate rising 23 percent. These spikes,driven by strong demand,trade restrictions,and production deficits particularly in urea,have reshaped global supply chains.

Morocco has strategically positioned itself as Europe’s alternative phosphate supplier,filling gaps left by Chinese and Russian exports hampered by sanctions and restrictions. The kingdom benefits from a projected 6 percent increase in DAP prices for 2025,leveraging its status to capture market share previously dominated by sanctioned suppliers.

Egypt,despite facing production deficits due to declining natural gas reserves,exploits its geostrategic location to serve as an alternative ammonia supplier for European markets. The country has successfully navigated supply disruptions affecting other sources,establishing new trade relationships.

However,the broader African continent faces severe challenges. The World Bank highlights deteriorating fertilizer affordability across Africa,with the DAP accessibility index reaching 1.72 in June 2025,surpassing its early 2022 peak. This indicates reduced accessibility for small-scale farmers already operating on thin margins.

The absence of intra-African initiatives,such as collective purchasing pools or regional production capacity development outside Morocco,maintains the continent’s fragmented dependency on volatile global markets. Without strategic interventions,African agriculture remains vulnerable to future geopolitical shocks affecting fertilizer availability and pricing.